Most days at work I find myself tuned into some lovely downtempo beats on Pandora. Something enjoyable, but not too distracting. However, one day I found myself with a task that was so simple and repetitive that I didn't need a lot of concentration. I decided to explore Pandora's comedy stations an that's where I was introduced to Josh Sneed.
In his bit, “60-watt Brownies” he talks about his Snoopy snow cone machine and what anthropologists call “balanced, delayed reciprocity.” As the owner of a Snoopy snow cone machine he hopes that in spending an inordinate amount of time grinding up one ice cube for his sister, she might later bake him a brownie with her Easy Bake Oven.
With the dawning of compact flourescent light bulbs I realize that even now this reference is becoming obscure, but it resonanted with me. My whole handmade arts experience has been, in a way, on par with making 60-watt brownies. And I'm not saying that what I do is cheap, cheating or a shortcut, it's just slightly unconvential.
I've been sewing since I was twelve and I made my first quilt for my newborn nephew about 5 years ago. Still, I feel at odds with the quilting crowd because they don't sew apparel. I make floral wreaths on used ropes from rodeo cowboys and jewelry out of beads and old bike parts. So, in a sense, I've been baking 60-watt brownies all my life.
And, I think there are a lot of you out there who are just like—me resourceful, creative, talented people whose crafts defy labels. Those who quilt in the spare moments a full time job and a life allows, those who make beauty out of garbage. Those who do because it makes them happy.
I want to share my projects with you and I hope together we can learn and build a community of building something out of nothing.
